Palawan’s inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households decelerated to 1.3 percent in May 2025 from 2.1 percent in April 2025. In May 2024, inflation rate was higher at 4.4 percent. (Table A and Figure 1). 

The major contributors to the downtrend in the provincial inflation for this income group in May 2025 were the lower year-on-year growth in the Food and non-alcoholic beverages at 0.4 percent from 2.1 percent, Transport at a decline of 3.4 percent from an annual decline of 2.8 percent, and Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance at 1.3 percent in the current month from 1.8 percent in April 2025. 

Moreover, lower inflation rates as compared with the previous month were also recorded in the indices of the following commodity groups;  
a) Clothing and footwear, 1.3 percent from 1.5 percent; 
b) Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 2.3 percent from 2.4 percent; 
c) Health, 1.7 percent from 1.8 percent; and  
d) Recreation sport and culture, 1.0 percent from 1.1 percent. 

In contrast, higher annual growth rates were noted in the indices of Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 1.9 percent from 1.0 percent and Transport at 3.5 percent from 3.3 percent. 

Meanwhile, the indices of Information and communication, 23.7 percent; Education services, 0.0 percent; Restaurants and accommodation services, 8.4 percent; and Financial services, 0.0 percent, retained their previous months levels.  

Food inflation for the bottom 30% income households in Palawan recorded a decline at 0.1 percent in May 2025 from 1.8 percent in the previous month. In May 2024, the inflation was higher at 6.0 percent. (Table C) 

The downtrend in the food inflation in the province was mainly due to the slower growth in the Fish and other seafood at 12.7 percent from 23.7 percent, Cereals and cereal products at a decline of 8.0 percent from an annual decline of 7.0 percent, and Vegetables tubers and plantains cooking bananas and pulses at 1.3 percent from 2.3 percent. 

Meanwhile, the indices in Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals, Milk, other dairy products and eggs and Fruits and nuts recorded faster annual rates in May 2025 at 12.5 percent, 3.8 percent and 11.6 percent, consecutively.

(SGD) DONNA MARIE D. MOBE
(Supervising Statistical Specialist)
Officer-In-Charge 
Palawan Provincial Statistical Office

MQV/DGF